Kent head coach Matt Walker on decision to select Royal London One-Day Cup final squad to play Lancashire from pool of players which got them there

Matt Walker says Kent’s senior players all agree with the decision for those who got them to the Royal London One-Day Cup final to be given the chance to lead them to glory.

Several key Kent players and head coach Walker missed their run to the final as they were involved at The Hundred.

The Hundred has now finished this year, but captain Sam Billings, Jordan Cox, Jack Leaning, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Matt Milnes are all still expected to miss out at Trent Bridge this Saturday against Lancashire.

Cox will be away with England anyway while Billings (groin) and Milnes (back) sustained injuries in last week's heavy County Championship defeat to Essex. Although Lancashire say they will pick their strongest side possible, in reality, few who played in The Hundred will be available anyway, with several players on international duty.

“That’s absolutely fair and I think everyone is on board with that completely,” said Walker, whose team last made the final in the competition four years ago.

“That group of players got us to the final, that group of players will play in the final. Hopefully Alex Blake will come through with his [finger] injury, which is going to be a little bit touch and go. It’s the right thing to do.

“When a team plays that well to get you into that position, they deserve the chance to go and win it. Whatever the opposition does is irrelevant.

“That’s a strong principle of ours - we feel they should be rewarded for all the hard work they have done in getting us there. So no problems with that.

“I think every player who was at The Hundred is completely on board with that, too, there’s no moans and groans. They think that’s the right thing to do, too, which is helpful.

“You need to be fair about these things.